Ray Charles' first hit for Atlantic Records, "Mess Around", was actually written by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun under a pseudonym. Inspired by boogie-woogie piano, the song became a massive success, reaching number two on the charts. Brother Ray was influenced by music of all different styles, and boogie-woogie was one of the first - at the age of 3, Ray used to listen to a man by the name of Wylie Pitman at the Red Wing Cafe, where he would play boogie woogie on an upright piano. Mr.